19^th of December 2006

4^th Quarter Report (October, November, December)

INTRODUCTION

We are now approaching the end of the another successful year of basketball development, and of course this quarter was another historical success of basketball in Solomon Islands interms of its administration, development, infrastructure and of course of the increasing number of people playing basketball, referees, benches in different basketball competition in the provinces and Honiara through out the year.

PROVINCIAL BASKETBALL INFRASTRUCTURE

One of the biggest challenged and obstacle to the development of basketball not only in the provinces but also here in Honiara is the infrastructure development, and it is one of the SIBF top priorities.

So far Eight (8) out of Ten (10) provinces have access to their own basketball facilities, and Solomon Island Basketball Federation is working on facilitating the set up of its provincial basketball association to coincide with its proposed National Provincial Basketball Championship in June/July 2007, as part of its development yearly plan. Provinces are; 1, Honiara. 2, Guadalcanal 3, Makira 4, Renbel 5, Temotu 6, Isabel 7, Malaita 8, Western Province.

UNDER 20 YRS BASKETBALL COMPETITION

After months of preliminary matches, and build up of the Under 20 Basketball Competition in Honiara, the Andel club has become the new champions. With a team competing in each of Wednesday's Grand Finals of the Mens and Womens divisions, the stage was set for Andel's biggest day of the year.

The first match of the afternoon was the Women's final with Lakers playing Andel. In a closely contested match, the Lakers were constantly biting at the heels of Andel, and there was virtually nothing in it. Entering the final quarter Lakers were behind by just a few points, but Andel dug deep to make a last final run, pouring on the points to win the championship, Andel 46 def Lakers 26, and The second final featured Sunrise taking on Andel in a great atmosphere at the Multi Purpose Hall full of cheering and music. Sunrise lead the match early thanks to some sharp shooting from Mark Mataki, but were soon overtaken by Andel due to a strong inside presence from the twin towers, Leon and Moses. Throwing everything at Andel in the second half, Sunrise could not seem to get back within 5 points, and the last quarter score blew out from what was a very close and competitive game. Andel 63 def Sunrise 45.

INTER - TERTIARY BASKETBALL COMPETITION

Basketball was one of the core sports played during the inter-tertiary sports competition recently. It is a yearly competition and its usually held on this time of the year for students attending various institutes with in the region, including our Honiara based USP students and also Solomon Island College of Higher Education (SICHE).

The tertiary basketball competition was played at the Multi Purpose Hall. The competition includes 6 mens teams and 4 womens teams from the students attending Universities in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, PNG, Vanuatu and of course higher education centres across Honiara including SICHE and USP Honiara. The competition was organised through the USP Centre student council committee group who secured funding for the event from the National Government.

The SIBF is impressed with the way many of the young people within the Solomon Islands are raising their hands to volunteer and dedicate their time to basketball. These young people have grown up through the SIBF programs and now are taking the extra step to help progress Solomon Islands basketball in the right direction. We really look forward to many more basketball competitions to take place in the future, and if the fine work of these young Solomon Islanders is an example of what is possible then there will be only more success in the future.

RENBEL VISIT AN OVERWHELMING SUCCESS!

AYAD Ryan Burns and myself have returned from our 1 week visit to Bellona in Renbel province last month. During our time we were inspected the recently constructed basketball court and ran workshops including coaching, refereeing, scorebench and playing. The workshops were a huge success with an overwhelming response from the local people as more than 40 particpants attended each course, it was more than double what was anticipated. SIBF also donated 10 new basketballs and 2 sets of uniforms to the newly started association in Bellona to get them rolling.

"We were really impressed with the level of interest and enthusiasm from all the particpants, they really love their basketball and it was a real pleasure to come and assist them. The standard of play, coaching, scoring and refereeing has clearly improved over the week, and will no doubt make a big impact on the standard of play for the Avaiki Provincial Games starting on the 11^th December".

The particpants were tired from their big week, but on the final afternoon mustered enough energy to put into practice a fully timed professional basketball match so that they could put their newly acquired skills into action. I was most impressed with the standard and improvements of the refereeing "there are definately some skilled basketball people here, and I hope that they continue to improve as basketball will be all the better for it."

Bellona Basketball Executive Committee are as follows; 1. President - Mr. Kendrick Tango`ha, 2. Vice President - Mrs. Pricilla Puia, 3. Treasurer - Mr. Ukasu Tango, 4. Secretary - Mr. Eric Mamu, 5. Members are; Mr. Tom Baiabe, Mrs. Grace Tesu`atai and Greeting Tahea.

Course participants; (Male) 1. Kendrick Tango`eha, 2. Tom Baiabe, 3. Wollen Peseika, 4. Morsely Taika, 5. Ukasu Tango, 6. Daley Tesu`atai, 7. Dugan Kiteika, 8. Mike Puia, 9. Bix Paul, 10. Jeffery Taika, 11. Albert Saungongo, 12. Joel Abia, 13. Terry Sau`eha, 14. Samberry Billy, 15. Ian Teika, 16. Manoe Kabei, 17. Eric Mamu, 18. Ronald Ma`anuika, 19. Henex Komomei, 20. Kuipa, 21. Badly Pongi- (Female) 1. Grace Tesu`atai, 2. Pricilla Puia, 3. Kristina Puia, 4. Jenita Kiubane, 5. Doreen Puia, 6. Rufina Tango, 7. Jenny Gobeika, 8. Margaret Tango, 9. Rika Tekatoha, 10. Tonuika Tango, 11. Nerolyn Anguika, 12. Joan Taika, 13. Mary Peseika, 14. Jenny Tango.

AVAIKI BASKETBALL GAMES - RENBEL PROVINCE  

Basketball was one of the 4 core sports in the recent Avaiki Games in RENBEL Province. The Avaiki Games is part of the Provincial Games project funded by the Australian Government thru the Australian Sports Commission. The competition includes 6 men`s and 6 women`s from the six zones in the RENBEL province. AYAD Mr. Ryan Burns had been appointed by the SIBF to be the games commissioner of the recent Avaiki Basketball Championship. SIBF had assisted in sending some of its senior referees to assist in officiating and organizing the competition. Honiara City was the first province apart from RENBEL under the project to include basketball as one of the core sport in their sports competition.  

2007 SAMOA TRAINING SQUAD

The Solomon Island Basketball Federation had selected its 40 strong men & women basketball players for their training camp in preparation for the upcoming Pacific Games in Samoa next. The training schedules will commence on the 16^th January 2007. The SIBF had also appointed Mr. Ryan Burns to coach the Men`s National Team, and Mr. Eric Matangi for the Women`s National Team. It was another step in the process to develop the best possible men`s and women`s team to represent Solomon Island in the upcoming Pacific Games in Samoa 2007.

PLANS FOR THE 1^ST QUARTER 2007

·        Organise of the Senior Basketball Competition

·        Under 20 yrs Basketball Competition

·        Under 14/15 Basketball Competition

·        Commencement of the National Training Squad

·        School Visits

·        Conduct various basic course

·        Preparation tour - Australia

 

 

Report prepared by: Golden Kiloko

                             National Basketball Development Officer

                             National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands

                             P O Box 532, Honiara.

                            

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